This is the desktop I have, almost 2 years old:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227392
AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz Quad Core CPU
AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB
8GB DDR3 1333 RAM
ASROCK N68-VS3 FX motherboard, AM3+ cpu socket, PCI-e 2.0x16 for video card
500W Power supply
Im thinking about a few upgrades:
1) A relatively cheap SSD for the OS. Already have a couple 500GB drives for other data.
2) A better video card. I have no idea what would be a noticeably better video card than what I already have, and maybe for around $100 .?
3) Maybe a better CPU, or would my current CPU be good enough?
4) Would I need to go with a higher power supply than my 500w if I decide to get SSD, new video card, and new CPU?
Here's some of the hardware I have found:
1) SSD
ADATA 128GB: $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211602
looks like it would be good enough for me
2) Video Card: NVIDIA or AMD?
This looks pretty decent, maybe?:
Radeon HD 7770 2GB PCI-e 3.0 x16: $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642
3) CPU:
6-core:
AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz AM3+ 95w: $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
or
8-core:
AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz AM3+ 125w: $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113285
4) PSU:
650W: $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182071
or
750W: $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182073
The current hardware in the PC does OK. Ive managed to play some games like: Tomb Raider (2013), Dead Space 3, Devil May Cry (2013), Crysis 2 and 3, and Batman Ark City with options usually on a mix of medium or high and resolution set lower than my monitors native 1920x1080.
The main game Id be most interested in getting better performance on with these hardware upgrades would be Battlefield 3. My PC can just barely run it as is. With all settings on Low and resolution set to, I think, 1024x768 I get somewhere around 40 frames average, depending on map and location, on a full 64 player game. Its playable but it looks like crap. lol
Im not sure if I really need to worry about upgrading the CPU and PSU or if Im better off just getting the SSD and video card. If I were to spend a little more on the video card I could go with something like this: the GeForce GTX 660 2GB for $189.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127707
Im looking at about $225 - $280 if I just go SSD + video card. Somewhere around $400 - $550 if I go with all upgrades. The lower price of just the SSD and video card definitely appeals to me more than dumping a bunch of cash into this PC. I eventually plan to move on to an iMac for my desktop machine sometime in the future, within a year or two maybe, so the less I spend on the PC now the more Ill have later when Im ready for an iMac.
Im open to any and every suggestion, other options, what hardware to go with, etc.
Thank you!
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16883227392
AMD FX-4100 3.6GHz Quad Core CPU
AMD Radeon HD 6670 1GB
8GB DDR3 1333 RAM
ASROCK N68-VS3 FX motherboard, AM3+ cpu socket, PCI-e 2.0x16 for video card
500W Power supply
Im thinking about a few upgrades:
1) A relatively cheap SSD for the OS. Already have a couple 500GB drives for other data.
2) A better video card. I have no idea what would be a noticeably better video card than what I already have, and maybe for around $100 .?
3) Maybe a better CPU, or would my current CPU be good enough?
4) Would I need to go with a higher power supply than my 500w if I decide to get SSD, new video card, and new CPU?
Here's some of the hardware I have found:
1) SSD
ADATA 128GB: $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820211602
looks like it would be good enough for me
2) Video Card: NVIDIA or AMD?
This looks pretty decent, maybe?:
Radeon HD 7770 2GB PCI-e 3.0 x16: $134.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814121642
3) CPU:
6-core:
AMD FX-6300 3.5GHz AM3+ 95w: $119.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113286
or
8-core:
AMD FX-8320 3.5GHz AM3+ 125w: $159.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819113285
4) PSU:
650W: $89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182071
or
750W: $104.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182073
The current hardware in the PC does OK. Ive managed to play some games like: Tomb Raider (2013), Dead Space 3, Devil May Cry (2013), Crysis 2 and 3, and Batman Ark City with options usually on a mix of medium or high and resolution set lower than my monitors native 1920x1080.
The main game Id be most interested in getting better performance on with these hardware upgrades would be Battlefield 3. My PC can just barely run it as is. With all settings on Low and resolution set to, I think, 1024x768 I get somewhere around 40 frames average, depending on map and location, on a full 64 player game. Its playable but it looks like crap. lol
Im not sure if I really need to worry about upgrading the CPU and PSU or if Im better off just getting the SSD and video card. If I were to spend a little more on the video card I could go with something like this: the GeForce GTX 660 2GB for $189.99:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814127707
Im looking at about $225 - $280 if I just go SSD + video card. Somewhere around $400 - $550 if I go with all upgrades. The lower price of just the SSD and video card definitely appeals to me more than dumping a bunch of cash into this PC. I eventually plan to move on to an iMac for my desktop machine sometime in the future, within a year or two maybe, so the less I spend on the PC now the more Ill have later when Im ready for an iMac.
Im open to any and every suggestion, other options, what hardware to go with, etc.
Thank you!